Aztecs head coach Rocky Long confirmed Baxter's removal Wednesday, saying "he's no longer part of the program."

Long said players in his program have to meet certain expectations and that it's better to "split ways" with Baxter.

Long said the move was made for "various reasons" but declined to talk about those reasons.

According to a source, Baxter, 20, had issues with class attendance and falling asleep in study hall. He also has a baby, which added stress to his schedule.

When reached by phone, Baxter said he couldn't talk about his dismissal.

Because of NCAA transfer rules, Baxter would not have been able to play withthe Aztecs this season anyway. He could have hung out with the team during spring ball, but last week Long announced that Baxter would be "held out" of spring ball to focus on personal and academic issues.

Baxter was no stranger to trouble when he was at USC. He was suspended for two games his freshman season and had trouble showing up to class. And, of course, there was the golf-cart incident. He also frequently complained about his lack of playing time.

In his two turbulent years with the Trojans, Baxter had just 68 carries for 281 yards and one rushing touchdown. A four-star recruit coming out of Mission Bay High in San Diego, Baxter was ranked 117th on the ESPNU 150 list in 2010 after setting a state record with 76 touchdowns in 2009.

There's no immediate news on what Baxter plans to do yet. As the article points out, he'll be eligible for the NFL draft next season. But without any college resume to speak of and a 747 full of baggage, it's going to be tough for him to get looks. As someone who covered Baxter in high school and saw his potential, it's another sad chapter in a college career that never really got started.